Antique China dolls were made by various, mostly German companies from 1836 to
the 1940s. Glazed porcelain China head dolls
(unglazed porcelain dolls are referred to as Parian dolls) are usually found on a wood, cloth or
kid body with some dolls having partial China limbs as well. Most China dolls
found,
have molded painted hair, but some have a wig over a solid bald dome head. China
head dolls range in size from a tiny 3 inches to a big and very heavy 40 inches
tall.

China head dolls are
usually unmarked, some may have a mold number or doll makers mark on the back of the
neck or on the shoulder plate, thus it can be impossible to pinpoint the doll maker, so
dolls are described and identified by the type of hairstyle.
As hairstyles changed over the long history of China head doll making, dolls
changed too, which gives us a clue to their dating.

Shown left above is a China head doll hairstyle known as Countess Dagmar
ca. 1860s, photo courtesy of Virtu Doll